Tube or tunnel protector for cable roads



(No Model.)

H. F. ASOHEGK. TUBE OE 'TUNNEL PEOTEOTOE EOE OABLE ROADS. No. 400,034.

Patented Mar. Z6

NV PETERS. PhowLhugmPhnr. Washingmn, D:A

UNITED STATES PATENT ffl? HENRY F. ASOHEOK, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TUBE OR TUNNEL PROTECTOR FOR CABLE ROADS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 400,034, dated March 26, 1889.

Application filed August 16, 1888, Serial No. 282,934. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,:IIENRY F. AsCHECK,o the city and county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented an Improvement in Tube or Tunnel Protectors for Cable Roads; and l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to the class of cable railroads. My invention consists in a plate pivoted or hinged within the tube or tunnel to one side thereof, said plate traversing or crossing` the vertical plane of the grip-slot and resting against the other side of the tube or tunnel, whereby when at rest it covers the top or neck of the tube, bnt is adapted to be moved by the passing` grip without interfering with its travel.

My invention further consists in the construction and arrangement of a continuous series of said plates, their connections and limiting devices, and other details, all ot' which I shall hereinafter fully describe.

The object of my invention is to protect the tube or tunnel from snow, dust, dirt, sand, and other dbris which usually finds its way through the open grip-slot into said tube or tunnel and interferes with the proper working of the cable, the carrying-sheaves, and other machinery located in the tube or tunnel.

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure 1 is a cross-section of a cable-railway tube or tunnel, showing the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a series ojt my protecting-plates, showing their relative arrangement. Fig. is a top View of same, showing the effect of the passing gripshank. Fig. t is a view showing the application of the plates to a curve.

A is the tube or tunnel, formed in any suitable manner, a yoke, a, being here shown as part of the frame-work or skeleton.

B is the grip-slot, formed by the slot-irons I) in the top of the tube or tunnel.

C is a' carrying-sheave for the cable D.

E is the gri p-shank. (Shown in dotted lines in Fig. l and in horizontal cross-section in Fig. 3.)

F is my protecting-plate. By reference to Fig. l it will bc seen that it is located within the tube or tunnel at its upper portion or neck and crosses the vertical plane of the grip-slot and the path of the grip-shank. It is hinged or pivoted in the tube or tunnel in suitable manner, so that it maybe moved by the passing` grip-shank to one side of the vertical plane of the grip-slot, and after being relieved bythe grip-shank it is adapted to return to its normal place.

To hinge or pivot the plate, I have here shown, as one form of connection a rod, G, which is to be fixed in suitable manner within the tube or tunnel, as by the carrying-brackets H bolted to the flanged yokes a.v The plate F is fitted to this rod by means of eyes or staples f, secured to the plate and loosely embracing the rod, said eyes or staples representing one form of hinge, and at the same time serving a further purpose, which will presently appear. The line on which the plate is hinged is below the center, thereby enabling the plate to return to its seat by gravity, and the plate is wide enough to find a seat against the opposite side ot the tube or tunnel-here shown as against the sideof the opposing slot iron b. This is its normal position. It will now be seen that when in this position it. serves as al protector for the tube or tunnel by preventing the snow, dust, dirt, san d, tbc., which enters the slot from falling directly upon the cable and carrying-sheaves below; but when the grip-shai'lk comes in contact with the edge of the plate it moves said plate to one side of the vertical plane of the slot, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l, and thus opens the slot for the free passage of the grip. In this position-namely, that of the dotted lin es, Fig. l-whatever dbris m ay have lodged and accumulated on the plate is directed downwardly toward the side of the tube or tunnel, and may fall to the bottom thereof, passing down one side, and not coming in contact with the machinery at all or, if desired, a receptacle-such as is represented by J-may be secured to the side of the tube or tunnel and receive the dbris. As soon as the grip relieves the plate F, it returns by gravity to its seat. It found desirable, a spring, K, may be employed to assist the plate in returning to its seat. I have in Fig. l shown the spring as connected with the plate below its pivotal IOO center and arranged to draw the lower portion ot' the. 1)lat-e toward the side of the tube or tunnel, thereby throwing the upper end of the plate over to its seat.

ln Fig. 2 I show the nianuer of arranging the plates l? in emitinuous series throughout the length oi' the road. An overlapping tiange^/", is jformed or placed on the end oi. eaeh plate, this flange extending over to and lying against thesurtaee ot' the end et' the ad jacent plate. lheretore when the grip-shank presses against one plate the side movement of said plate is eonnnunicated to the adjacent plate and it nieves over also; but in order to avoid having to move the whole line or series ot' plates by pressure applied to one l inake the hinge staples oreyes loose enough on the tixed rod ("r to permit enoughplay to theplates to allow all to remain in normal position, except those in the innnediate vicinity ot the grip-shank. This result and the position of the plates under the action of the grilji-shank l have shown in Fig. $3. rlhus only t-hat portion of the grip slot and tube or tunnel which is in the innnediate vieinity ot' a car will be temporarily uncovered, the reinainingportion heilig protected by the plates resting in nori inal position.

As a car has sometimes to be inoved back, l provide lor the proper cmineetion of the plates by ineans oi` other flanges or arins, L, secured to the under side ot' one end of the plate and overlapping the adjacent plate. These will communicate niotion troni one plate to thc other when the car isliiaeking, and in this ease the loose eyes or staples serve the saine function as before. rl`he tlangesj" and li, being on opposite sides oi' the plates, pre veilt theln l'roin slipping by each other and hohl thein in place on the rod.

ln a curve, where it; inight be iinpraet-icable to extend the rod G all the way around, I could terminate iton each side, as shown in Fig. l, allowing its ends to project suiticiently to hinge a central curved plate tliereto, or short rods inijrht be used inthe curve,it tound desirable.

l ain aware that covers for slots of cable rail waysare not new, and that hinged or swinging plates have been placed over and also iinnnaliately under the slot; but l ain not aware ot" a plate located within the neck of the tube or tunnel itselt, and so arranged as to direct the debris down to one side, thus avoidingI dropping it upon the cable machinery.

llaving thus deseribed lny invention, whatl elailn as new, and desire to seen re by Letters latent, is-

l. ln a eable railway, a platehinged orpivnted within the tubo or tunnel, to one side thereot'. said plate erossing the vertical plane otf the grip-slot and resting against the oppesite side of the tube or tunnel, substantially as herein described.

2. ln a cable railway, a plate hinged or pivoted within the tube or tunnel, to one side thereof, said plate extending at an upward inclination to and resting against the opposite side, whereby when at rest it crosses the vertical plane of the grip-slot and can be inoved over to one side oi said plane by the passing grip, suliistz'i-ntially as herein described.

23. .ln a cable railway, a plate within the tube or tunnel crossin the vertical plane olf the grip-slot and resting against one side ol said tube or tunnel, said platehavinga hinge or pivot connection with the other side ol. the

" tube or tunnel. on, a l'ni below the center ol the plate, wherebyit tinds its seat by gravity, substantially as herein described.

1t. In a cable railway, the tube or tunnel having a fixed rod secured. to one side thereof, in coinliination with a plate hinged or pivoted on said rod and crossing the vertical plane of the grip-slot to the other side, where it finds i a rest, substantially as herein described.

ln a cable railway, the tube or tunnel having a iixed rod seeured to one side thereof, in coinbil'iation with a plate hinged or pivoted on said rod on aline below its center, wl'iereby it finds its seat by gravity, said plate extending at an upward incliiiation across the vel'- tieal plane of the grip-slot and resting on the other side, substantially as herein described.

(l. ln a cable railway, the series of hinged plates within the tube or tunnel and crossingl the vertical plane ot' the grip-slot, said plates having flanges overlapping the edge ot' the plate adjacent, substantially as herein described. i

7. ln a cable railway, the series ot' hinged plates within the tube or tunnel and crossingI the vertical plane of the grip-slot, said plates having tlangcs overlapljiing the edge el' the plate adjacent and having a play in their hinge-connection, whereby only those [dates in the vicinity of the passing gripshank will be nioved, substantially as herein described.

S. ln a cable railway, the tube or tunnel having the tixed rod, in combination with the series of plates within the tube or tunnel and crossing the vertical plane ot the grip-slot, said plates having overlapping flanges, and the staples or eyes loosely embracing the rod, whereby the plates are hinged thereto, substz'nltially as herein described.

ln witness whereolg l have hereunto set niy hand,

IIO 

